Disabled Parent Living with You? 3 Tips to Remodel Your Bathroom to Fit Their Needs
Posted on: 10 May 2019
If you have a disabled parent living with you, you should make changes to make their life as comfortable as possible in your home. One area you can start with is to remodel your bathroom. Below are three tips on the changes you should make so your parent will have an easier time going into and using the restroom.
Widen Doorway
If your parent is in any kind of wheelchair or they use a type of walker, you should widen the doorway of the bathroom. The width of the doorway should be at least 32 inches wide. This will give them enough space to easily maneuver their wheelchair or walker through the door.
Another thing to consider is how much space they have to maneuver once they walk through the door. For example, there should be enough space for them to roll their wheelchair or walker into the room without having something immediately in their way, such as a shower enclosure, vanity, etc.
You may want to hire professional bathroom remodeling services to widen the doorway for you. This is a large job that may be difficult for the average person to do on their own.
Change Flooring
Another thing you should consider remodeling is the flooring in your bathroom. Hardwood flooring is a good option for you. This is because hardwood is ADA compliant, but only if you use actual hardwood. Some common types of wood used are maple, white oak, and red oak. Using hardwood will also help prevent damage to the flooring from the wheelchair or walker.
Ceramic tiles are another option you have. This works well as ceramic is resistant to moisture. If you choose this, use smaller tiles. This is because large tiles would be more likely to break by the weight of a wheelchair or constant use of a walker. The grout lines in ceramic tiles provide traction for the wheelchair.
For a more budget-friendly option, you can use vinyl. If you do choose this, use vinyl tiles or inlaid sheet vinyl, which is more slip resistant. Vinyl tiles have a backing that is made of foam which makes the floor comfortable to walk on, which is beneficial for you as the caregiver.
Talk to a remodeling contractor and they can give you more information about remodeling options. There are other things you could consider, such as installing grab bars around the toilet area and in the slower.
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